Celebrities vie for “Who Wears Purple Best?” title to raise awareness of new global prevalence on World Alzheimer’s Day

Today, on World Alzheimer’s Day, new data released estimates 35 million people worldwide – a 10% increase over 2005 – are living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, highlighting the urgent need for action and response.

By voting, fans also become Alzheimer’s Association Champions and can take action by learning more about Alzheimer’s disease, becoming advocates, making donations. They can also share the purple competition Web site with family and friends via e-mail, Facebook and Twitter to campaign for their favorite Alzheimer’s Association celebrity Champion.

“While I hope to be a favorite in the World Alzheimer’s Day ‘Who Wears Purple Best?’ competition, my goal is for people to learn more about Alzheimer’s and take action,” said Melina Kanakaredes, actress and Alzheimer’s Association Champion. “People do not realize that Alzheimer’s is not old age. It is a progressive and fatal disease and staggering amounts of people develop Alzheimer’s every day.”

Global devastation of Alzheimer's disease – We must act nowWith 77 million American baby boomers reaching the age of greatest risk, it is clear that the crisis of dementia and Alzheimer’s cannot be ignored. Left unchecked, dementia and Alzheimer’s will impose enormous burdens on individuals, families, health care infrastructures and the worldwide economy.

According to the 2009 World Alzheimer Report, newly released today from Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI), a London-based nonprofit, international federation of 71 national Alzheimer organizations including the Alzheimer’s Association, the number of people with Alzheimer’s or another dementia, currently 35 million, is expected to nearly double every 20 years, to 65.7 million in 2030 and 115.4 million in 2050.

"Today on World Alzheimer's Day, with 35 million people worldwide and as many as 5.3 Americans living with Alzheimer's disease, we should commit to focusing on Alzheimer's throughout the year," said David Hyde Pierce, actor and Honorary Alzheimer Association National Board Member. "Our government should commit to making this a health care priority, and the next step is to pass the Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act."

Worldwide, the economic cost of dementia has been estimated as $315 billion annually. The total annual costs per person with dementia have been estimated as $1,521 in a low income country, rising to $4,588 in middle income countries, and $17,964 in high income countries. (Anders Wimo, et al. “An Estimate of the Total Worldwide Societal Costs of Dementia in 2005.” Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association. Volume 3, Issue 2, April 2007.)

“The number of people affected by Alzheimer’s is growing at a rapid rate, and the increasing personal costs will have significant impact on the world’s economies and health care systems. We must make the fight against Alzheimer’s a priority here in the United States and worldwide,” said Harry Johns, President and CEO of the Alzheimer’s Association. “Just like our celebrity Champions, we must take action against Alzheimer’s now.”

In addition to new prevalence estimates, the report outlines eight global recommendations.